Team Herald
PANJIM: A tree planted by the Former Defence Minister Late Manohar Parrikar in Panjim was left defenceless after its branches were cut and pruned recently. Alert locals questioned the act and stopped the tree from being cut.
A complaint of illegal tree felling/cutting planted by Adv Rui Ferreira along with the Former Hon'ble Union Minister for Defence late Shri Manohar Parrikar in front of Goa Urban Co-operative Bank Head Office on the Dr Atmaram Borkar Road, Panaji has been filed.
According to the complaint filed by Adv Ferreira on October 13, at around 6.15 am two labourers were seen illegally cutting the tree with an axe. After inquiring with the labourers, the complainant was informed that the owner of one adjoining restaurant/food outlet run had engaged them to cut the said tree.
Adv Ferreira said "Like The Garden City of India i.e. Bangalore Panjim was the Garden City of Goa. The gardens were self-fed by wells. The city was green and a pleasure to be in. I could run to Don Bosco school to attend classes during monsoons without an umbrella as the trees provided shade from the rains. However, it is all gone now" he said.
Adv Ferreira further said that the trees that form the ecological and the age-old heritage of the City are being cut which is eroding the character of the city. He also said the over-commercialisation has been a catalyst in the process of the city losing its character.
Adv Ferreira has warned of escalating the fight if the tree is not restored and the culprits are not booked.